Plant height: 5 - 9 inches (12 - 23 cm)
Plant spread: 4 - 8 inches (10 - 21 cm)
The spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) is considered one of the most adaptable of houseplants and the easiest to grow. The spider plant is so named because of its spider-like plants, or spiderettes, which dangle down from the mother plant like spiders on a web. Available in green or variegated varieties, these spiderettes often start out as small white flowers.
Spider Plant is also a champion cleanser of air. The NASA tests showed it to remove around 90% of the harmful chemical formaldehyde from the air. Since formaldehyde is found in common household products like adhesives, grout and fillers, it’s a good idea to keep one of these plants around your kitchen and bathrooms especially.
Common name(s): Spider plant.
Flower colours: Greenish-white, white.
Bloom time: Flowers freely
Max reachable height: Up to 1 feet
Difficulty to grow: Easy to grow
Planting and care
Spider plants grows baby spider plants known as plantlets. When removed and placed in water or soil, the roots of the plantlets grow and eventually mature into large spider plants themselves. Needing only a bit of water, some sun and well-drained soil, spider plants are low-maintenance and will add a dash of green to any room.Cut the plantlet from the stolon with a pair of scissors. Plantlets are small and have leaves growing from their crown. If possible, choose a plantlet that already has lengthy roots. Cut back the stolon to the base of the mature spider plant.Fill a small jar or cup with water. Let the water sit for 24 hours so the chlorine dissipates. Place the base of the plantlet into the room-temperature water, allowing its leaves to extend past the lip of the cup or jar.Alternatively, fill a 4-inch planting pot with draining holes two-thirds full of well-draining potting soil.Wet the base of the plantlet with water and pour a small amount of rooting hormone into a dish or container.Lower the base of the plantlet into the hormone and place it in the pot.Cover only the base with soil, lightly tapping the soil with your fingers to compact it and secure the base. Add enough water so the soil becomes moist.Place the plantlet in indirect sunlight. Full sun may kill the baby plant before it has a chance to grow roots.If rooting in water, remove the plant from the jar or cup each day and replace the water.Check the base for mold growth. If mold is present, place the plantlet under the faucet and gently wash it off.Fill a 4-inch pot with draining holes two-thirds full of well-draining potting soil if you rooted the plantlet in water.Place the plantlet into the pot once the roots reach about 3 inches, which usually takes two to three weeks.Cover only the roots with soil and water the plant regularly until the soil is moist, but do not overwater.Place the pot in indirect light.Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
Soil: Well-drained soil.
Water: Moderately
Temperature: 18 - 24 degrees C
Fertilizer: Apply any organic fertilizer
Caring for Chlorophytum
- During the main growing season feed with organic fertilizer once a month.
- Keep the Spider plant away from direct sunlight as it can cause damage to the foliage.
- Allow the soil to become dry at the top to the touch between watering and do not over water.
- Spider plant should be repot once a year at the beginning of spring.
